Does anyone know if they ever 'caught up' on posting deaths prior to 1962? Do they ever intend to, or is this a backburner thing? Also, is there any rhyme or reason to the listings - I can't see that they are listed by state, date, middle initial, etc. Are theyh just in a scrambled format? I'd like to know before I plow through a bunch of listings on some common names. Thanks you.

In article <[email protected]>, Kalmia <[email protected]> wrote: > Does anyone know if they ever 'caught up' on posting deaths prior to > 1962? Do they ever intend to, or is this a backburner thing? > > Also, is there any rhyme or reason to the listings - I can't see that > they are listed by state, date, middle initial, etc. Are theyh just > in a scrambled format? > > I'd like to know before I plow through a bunch of listings on some > common names. Thanks you. My understanding is that the cut-off date for the index was 1966, though there are a few records previous to 1966, and there is no plan to index the earlier deaths. Search results are given in alphabetical order of state where the SS card was issued. As another poster suggested using the advanced search can help focus your research.

Kalmia wrote: > Does anyone know if they ever 'caught up' on posting deaths prior to > 1962? Do they ever intend to, or is this a backburner thing? > > Also, is there any rhyme or reason to the listings - I can't see that > they are listed by state, date, middle initial, etc. Are theyh just > in a scrambled format? > > I'd like to know before I plow through a bunch of listings on some > common names. Thanks you. > see http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ SSDI Tutorial • Missing Entries • Reporting Inaccuracies • Definitions, Search Tips • Full Tutorial RootsWeb's Guide to Tracing Family Trees U. S. Social Security Death http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ssdi/ The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is generated from the U. S. Social Security Administration's Death Master File. The SSDI does not include death records for everyone who has been issued a Social Security Number (card). Common reasons for exclusion include the following: * The death was not reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). * The death occurred before the Death Master File was maintained in a computer database. About 98 percent of the deaths in this database occurred between 1962 and the present. * The person did not participate in the Social Security program. * Survivor death benefits were (are) being paid to dependents or spouse. * A recent death may not be indexed yet. * Human error. (Before you give up, read the section titled "Missing Entries in the SSDI.") If you do not find a listing in the SSDI, it does not mean the person is still living, or that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has no records on the deceased. See "Contacting the SSA for Information" for instructions on requesting information on individuals not in the SSDI. read up the background the file / database was created for office use not for us http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/article.aspx Hugh W